The conference had five major themes: (1) legal implications of the term, violence, and its complexity which was discussed as it relates to rape and the "sit-in" or civil disobedience; (2) every-day violence in police practice, i.e. violence against women and children; (3) crisis intervention by the police during violent acts; (4) how adult attitudes toward violence are formed by family and school experiences; (5) violence against the police and police use of violence during political demonstrations. Several needs of police departments were highlighted such as special training to assist police in distinguishing between peaceful and violent demonstrators and to help the police to avoid excessive violence while acting. 1 table and session references. (Author abstract modified)